Generating a drawing symbol in a drawing

Abstract

In a method for automatically generating, by a CAD program, a drawing symbol in a drawing, an attribute object is created, said attribute object representing an attribute that signifies at least one property of at least one entity of said model, said attribute object is associated with a model data structure representing said model, and said drawing is generated, said drawing showing said entity of said model at least partially and further comprising a drawing symbol that represents said attribute. A CAD computer program product and an apparatus comprise corresponding features. The invention provides integrated support for attribute data items that relate to different types of entities of a model processed by the CAD program.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for automatically generating, by a CAD program, a drawing symbol in a drawing, said drawing representing a view of a model, said model being represented by a model data structure processed by said CAD program, said method comprising the steps of: 
 creating an attribute object, said attribute object representing an attribute that signifies at least one property of at least one entity of said model, said attribute having a scope selected from one of a plurality of different scopes, said scope corresponding to the type of entities of the model for which said attribute is intended,    associating said attribute object with said model data structure to form an extended model data structure, and    generating said drawing from said extended model data structure, said drawing showing said entity of said model at least partially and further comprising a drawing symbol that represents said attribute, said drawing symbol being shown in graphical association with said at least partially shown entity of said model.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein, in said extended model data structure, said attribute object is linked with at least one element of said model data structure that represents said at least one entity of said model to which said attribute refers, such that a link is provided between said attribute and said entity of said model.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , 
 wherein said attribute remains linked with said entity of said model when said model is stored and/or said entity is re-used in another model.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol corresponds to a drawing symbol object that is associated with said attribute object.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , 
 further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a command to modify said drawing symbol,  
 modifying said drawing symbol object correspondingly, and  
 modifying said attribute object correspondingly.  
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said model is a 3D model, and/or wherein said drawing is a 2D view of said model.    
     
     
         7 . The method  claim 1 , 
 wherein said plurality of different scopes includes scopes for attributes that are intended for at least one of face type entities of said model and edge type entities of said model.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said attribute belongs to one of a plurality of different kinds of attributes, said kind of said attribute corresponding to a kind of properties which the entity of said model for which said attribute is intended may have.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the graphical appearance of said drawing symbol is influenced by at least one property of said attribute.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol comprises a graphical form and an alphanumerical or numerical or textual indication, and wherein said attribute object comprises an attribute value that is represented by said indication.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol is automatically generated to conform to a drawing standard selected from a plurality of possible drawing standards.    
     
     
         12 . A CAD computer program product for execution by at least one computer for automatically generating a drawing symbol in a drawing, said drawing representing a view of a model, said model being represented by a model data structure processed by said CAD computer program product, said CAD computer program product comprising instructions for causing said at least one computer to perform the steps of: 
 creating an attribute object, said attribute object representing an attribute that signifies at least one property of at least one entity of said model, said attribute having a scope selected from one of a plurality of different scopes, said scope corresponding to the type of entities of the model for which said attribute is intended,    associating said attribute object with said model data structure to form an extended model data structure, and    generating said drawing from said extended model data structure, said drawing showing said entity of said model at least partially and further comprising a drawing symbol that represents said attribute, said drawing symbol being shown in graphical association with said at least partially shown entity of said model.    
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , 
 wherein, in said extended model data structure, said attribute object is linked with at least one element of said model data structure that represents said at least one entity of said model to which said attribute refers, such that a link is provided between said attribute and said entity of said model.    
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , 
 wherein said attribute remains linked with said entity of said model when said model is stored and/or said entity is re-used in another model.    
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol corresponds to a drawing symbol object that is associated with said attribute object.    
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , 
 further comprising instructions for causing said at least one computer to perform the steps of: 
 receiving a command to modify said drawing symbol,  
 modifying said drawing symbol object correspondingly, and  
 modifying said attribute object correspondingly.  
   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , 
 wherein the graphical appearance of said drawing symbol is influenced by at least one property of said attribute.    
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol comprises a graphical form and an alphanumerical or numerical or textual indication, and wherein said attribute object comprises an attribute value that is represented by said indication.    
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising at least one computer, said computer being programmed for automatically generating a drawing symbol in a drawing, said drawing representing a view of a model, said model being represented by a model data structure processed by said computer, said computer being programmed for performing the steps of: 
 creating an attribute object, said attribute object representing an attribute that signifies at least one property of at least one entity of said model, said attribute having a scope selected from one of a plurality of different scopes, said scope corresponding to the type of entities of the model for which said attribute is intended,    associating said attribute object with said model data structure to form an extended model data structure, and    generating said drawing from said extended model data structure, said drawing showing said entity of said model at least partially and further comprising a drawing symbol that represents said attribute, said drawing symbol being shown in graphical association with said at least partially shown entity of said model.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , 
 wherein, in said extended model data structure, said attribute object is linked with at least one element of said model data structure that represents said at least one entity of said model to which said attribute refers, such that a link is provided between said attribute and said entity of said model.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , 
 wherein said attribute remains linked with said entity of said model when said model is stored and/or said entity is re-used in another model.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol corresponds to a drawing symbol object that is associated with said attribute object.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , 
 in which said computer is further programmed for performing the steps of: 
 receiving a command to modify said drawing symbol,  
 modifying said drawing symbol object correspondingly, and  
 modifying said attribute object correspondingly.  
   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , 
 wherein the graphical appearance of said drawing symbol is influenced by at least one property of said attribute.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , 
 wherein said drawing symbol comprises a graphical form and an alphanumerical or numerical or textual indication, and wherein said attribute object comprises an attribute value that is represented by said indication.